The Best of 2014

Dare I say it the year of 2014 absolutely flew in (although some parts did drag a little), something I realise is becoming more common as I'm getting older unfortunately and there were plenty of ups and downs so I'm happy to have a restart in 2015. If you read my blogiversary post (link here) you'll know 2015 is a big year in terms of things happening and I couldn't be more excited for them to play out. 2014 was a massive year beauty and skincare wise as I branched out a heck of a lot more than usual so I thought I'd share a few of my favourite things. 

Skincare is something I hold my hands up about, until last year I didn't have a proper routine and I didn't know how bad my skin was so at the start of 2014 I told myself that would be fixed, and it was!

The Body Shop has some amazing products and between their Camomile Sumptuous Cleansing Butter and their Tea Tree Facial Wash my skin has improved and then some! Both are incredible and well loved for a reason, the tea tree fights blemishes and spots (which everybody gets) and the cleanser makes my skin silky smooth - what a duo! I also invested in more face masks and I now have a whole drawer full to get through so I'm well set for this year and this Quick Fix mask was one of the first I'd tried, one of the cheapest and one of the best so I thought it needed a mention. Soap & Glory is another brand that I've been loving this year and not just for its unique smell, the products actually work and smell gorgeous as well, plus the pink packaging definitely makes everything more fun.

2014 was also the year that Babylips and the Revlon Colourburst Balms arrived and I'm ever so glad that they did, I always have my trusted Cherry Me in my handbag for on the move and my Revlon matte balm in Sultry which is probably my most used lip colour ever and you're probably all sick of hearing me raving about it but its gorgeous! I also discovered The Body Shop's Honey Bronzer which I wrote a post about a long time ago now (link here) but basically it caters for paler gals as well which is so hard to find in the drugstore these days.

Also I had to give a shout out to my Collection concealer which will probably be with me until I'm old and grey - its incredible and I still haven't find a concealer up to par with this and trust me I've tried a fair few. I also tried a few bases cause you know its all about that base and the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum (the gel version, not the foundation) really stood out in the drugstore. I'm usually a Rimmel foundation gal so this was definitely a bit of a change up but a good one at that, I always wear it to work and know it won't fade.

I also took the plunge this year and bought things higher end a few times as a little treat, one of them being a YSL lipstick. I'd wanted one for ages but couldn't justify the price but in the end I gave myself one final pep talk and pressed 'add to basket' and I'm so glad I did - the formula is amazing and it looks stunning. My absolute gem of a beauty favourite of this year has to be the Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation though, I know its a bit of a love / hate depending on your preference on coverage but for me I absolutely love the fact that it won't budge for 12+ hours plus and its pale enough for my pale skin! A tad pricey (as are most foundations) but I will definitely keep repurchasing it! That's them all, hope you enjoyed it!

Thanks for reading, Jenny xo
P.s what are your absolute favourites of 2014?

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What I Got For Christmas 2014

I know I'm a few days late with this one but I told myself I wasn't going to post my very own What I Got For Christmas post but then reading through everyone elses I changed my mind. It's a post that I love reading, there's no other reason but I'm nosey so I hope you all having a snoop at mine as I love all of my presents, a lot! I also want to post a disclaimer that I'm not bragging at all with these, I've a small family and group of friends and half of these I wasn't expecting to be given so I'm extremely grateful and still in shock if I'm honest. 

It wouldn't be Christmas without a massive tub of chocolate, its just tradition and this year I was kindly given Celebrations, pity it isn't as full as this anymore. I hold my hands up, chocolate is a weakness. Also one of my friends bought me this Festive Friends Gift Box* from Lush for Secret Santa which smells incredible and I'm so grateful. It's filled to the brim with Christmas bath bombs and honestly I don't even want to open it - it just looks that pretty....

I've been moaning for the past two months that I haven't a clue what time it is work and sneakily checking my phone when I can wasn't cutting it so I was given a watch which is an absolute life saver. Its so dinky and the face is really simplistic so I love it. I just need a brown one and I'm set. It feels amazing not having to rely on technology again!

I rarely ask for jewellery because frankly I'm quite scared of losing the usually expensive pieces but this year I thought I'd chance my arm and ask for a Pandora ring* as my big present I guess and Santa not only bought me one but two so I was absolutely flabbergasted on Christmas morning - if only you could have seen my face! Both of them are incredibly beautiful and I love them to pieces. 

These were a few presents from my friends, I'm always keeping on about how amazing Soap & Glory smells but I hadn't tried anything from the Sugar Crush range yet so my friend took it upon herself to buy me some, verdict - it smells amazing too. Also I like buying Topshop Christmas socks and makeup bits and pieces for my friends each year so they decided to repay the favour and bought me lip products which look so dark but are actually brown and berry - bang on trend and fluffy socks, which you can never have enough of! 

Every year I get a few DVD's* because I rarely get round to buying myself them through the year, Boots always seems to call first so I was given a few, TFIOS was a must and then the second Spiderman which if you've seen the ending is equally as heartbreaking and of course anything with Zac Efron is superb so that too. Also some lovely smelling Ted Baker* bits which came in the cutest box ever. 

Another big surprise was my TV*, I had one when I was younger but it was took off me so to speak to replace one downstairs as I didn't use it all that much but nowadays I need one so they bought me a lovely white one to match all of my furniture and the quality is amazing. I've already tested out several dvd's, you can see what I did over Christmas lol! 

Lastly chocolate, chocolate and yet more chocolate. Please don't judge, I have a serious problem and yes I did get several selection boxes at the age of twenty oops but in my defence they're still amazing as they were when I was six/seven, except now I receive hot chocolate and cute mugs as well. 

I also received a few CD's such as One Direction, Taylor Swift and The Script because they're all incredible and a few other small things such as hand creams and small beauty sets but thats most of it. As I said I'm incredibly happy and grateful to everyone and I'm not bragging in the slightest but I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and Santa brought you everything that you asked for, of if you're too old for it, your parents. I can't wait to start blogging regularly again and if you have any similar posts to this please leave me a link in the comments, I love reading them!

Thanks for reading, Jenny xo 

P.s what did Santa bring? 

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December Non Beauty Favourites

Last month I didn't even post one favourites post, let alone two but since this is my last chance to write up a favourites post for 2014 I thought I'd be extra nice and do my typically non beauty and beauty faves. I always like to chuck in some lifestyle as well because I love reading little snippets on other peoples blogs too and its a tradition I'll be keeping regularly on the blog, in the New Year. I usually post my beauty favourites first so I thought I'd do the opposite, so alas heres my December non beauty favourites of the month, enjoy!

It wouldn't be a December favourites without a few Christmas movies, the ones that I've had on a loop are definitely Elf and The Holiday, even Love Actually's taken a backseat this year but I just had to give these a mention. Another favourite this month which isn't pictured is maybe a bit strange but its fluffy socks - I think I've made a new challenge to myself to own as many pairs as I can in every pattern and colour under the sun. I'm definitely set for the rest of Winter but they're unbelievably cosy and I'm all about comfort! In fact I'll probably end up buying more, if I'm honest....

Chocolate is always a favourite but even more this month, there's so many snacks and treats that its hard to not eat them at every opportunity and I've been doing just that. A tub of celebrations and numerous selection boxes should not have my name on it, who really needs a New Years diet when you've enough chocolate to last you until Easter! As with all chocolate binging my skin might be suffering from the odd spot or two but for the amount I'm eating it should be a full scale breakout so I'm counting myself lucky, however my new Origins face mask has come in pretty handy.

I've only used the drink up intensive mask overnight to give my skin a bit of a lift and revitalize it a little and surprisingly its worked and my skins on the road to recovery, thank goodness, but I can definitely see myself using these masks a lot in the new year. Another favourite would have to be Soap&Glory's Hand Food, I've been working a lot and my nails have been all bleh as a result until I found this in a drawer and I remembered just how amazing it is and within a day or two they're all back to normal and this has its place now on my bedside table so I can use it constantly.Lastly I picked up a ring from Urban Outfitters and its the cutest thing ever, I love finding little pieces of jewellery that I can mix and match - usually all sorts of silver rings and this is perfect.  

Thanks for reading, Jenny xo
P.s what non beauty things have you been loving lately?

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